The acute effect of smoking on intervillous blood flow of the placenta.

Smoking a standard cigarette caused an acute decrease in intervillous placental blood flow. This change normalized within 15 minutes. At the time intervillous blood flow was depressed, heart rate and blood pressure were elevated and remained so throughout the study period. Repeated decreases in the intervillous blood flow could explain growth retardation of the fetus and some other complications of pregnancy in women who smoke.